Master Musicians Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Master Musicians Festival |
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Counting Crows on stage at the 2014 MMF.
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| Genre | Varied: Rock, Folk, Jazz, Blues, Country, World, Bluegrass |
| Dates | Annually in July |
| Location(s) | Somerset Community College Somerset, Kentucky |
| Years active | 1994–2019, 2021– |
The Master Musicians Festival is an outdoor music festival. It takes place every July in Somerset, Kentucky. The festival lasts for two days.
It started in 1994. Volunteers at Somerset Community College organize the event. The festival is a non-profit group. Its main goal is to bring great music to rural Kentucky. It gets money from donations, sponsors, and ticket sales.
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What Kind of Music Can You Hear?
The Master Musicians Festival features many kinds of music. You can hear everything from blues and bluegrass to rock, jazz, and country. There is something for everyone!
In 2018, the festival celebrated its 25th birthday. For this special event, they welcomed John Prine. He was a famous singer-songwriter from Kentucky. He had won two Grammy awards.
Many well-known artists have played at the festival. These include Counting Crows, Willie Nelson, and Nickel Creek. Other famous names are St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Richie Havens, Dawes, and Dwight Yoakam. The festival also makes sure to feature local artists from Kentucky.
More Than Just Music
Every year, a local artist creates special artwork. This art is used on the festival's T-shirt. It is also sold at an auction to help raise money for the festival.
The festival also gives out awards. They present an "Educator of the Year Award." This award goes to a music teacher who helps young people learn about music in Kentucky. There is also an "MMF Lifetime Achievement Award." This award honors someone local who has done a lot for the arts.
You can also see local art displays at the festival. There are vendors selling crafts. Plus, there are workshops and activities for all ages to enjoy. About 6,000 people attend the festival each year.
Festival Goals
The Master Musicians Festival has a few important goals:
- To bring different kinds of music and cultures to the Lake Cumberland area.
- To teach people in Kentucky about musical arts.
- To support performing arts, visual arts, and crafts.
- To honor special "master" musicians, teachers, and community members.
Festival History
The festival was started in 1994 by a musician named Gabrielle Gray. She later became the director of the International Bluegrass Music Museum.
In 2020, the festival took a break. It helped organize online events during the COVID-19 pandemic. The live festival returned in 2021.
Awards and Special Recognition
The Master Musicians Festival has received several awards:
- In 2013, the Southeast Tourism Society named it "Event or Festival of the Year." This was for events with fewer than 100,000 people.
- The Kentucky Travel Industry Association chose the 2015 festival as one of its "Top Festivals & Events."
- Kentucky Living Magazine gave the festival first place for "Music Festival 2015."
- The festival has also won the Kentucky Governor's Awards for the Arts. This was for being an "Outstanding Community Arts Organization."
